Concrete form



Jan. 17, 1956 Filed April 17, 1952 Q0 er YWiHiama j [I WNW-em F. wnLuAs ETAL.

CONCRETE FORM I Aw? I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 17, 1956 R. F. WILLIAMS ETAL fifiwfiw CONCRETE FORM Filed April 17, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wirmss b fi MM j mmw fi United States Patent CONCRETE FORM Roger F. Williams, Des Moines, Iowa, and Glenn A. Rogge, Marinette, Wis.

Application April 17, 1952, Serial No. 282,764

6 Claims. (Cl. -130) Our invention relates to the art of placing wet concrete in a prepared form until the concrete hardens in order to produce useful articles. Specifically, we have invented a means for clamping the elements that make up the forms together in a new and novel manner.

In the manufacture of large items from concrete which term is used in the sense of a mixture of Portland cement, water and gravel or other aggregates to produce the familiar paving and the like the forms become rather a problem. They are large to handle unless made in sections and when so made other difficulties develop. The form must be very tight to insure the retention of water which if lost too soon causes the concrete to harden improperly making a weak product. The method of securing the forms must be strong because the weight of the concrete itself imposes a great strain on the concrete. The systems used before now have been reasonably satisfactory. They tend to be slow to assemble and difficult to keep water tight. A great variety of clamps, wedges and the like have been used which causes much loss of time and effort. The forms known before now of the general type that are used over and over again are expensive to manufacture also. The various clamping and wedging parts have been tedious to make and have had high labor costs.

In view of the foregoing, it is the principal object of our invention to provide a form for molding concrete that is very easy to assemble and disassemble.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a form for molding concrete that is water tight in its construction.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a form for molding concrete that is inexpensive to manufacture and durable in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Our invention consists in the construction, arrange ment, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in our claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a form constructed after the teaching of our invention.

. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of our form taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and with portions of the form broken away to more clearly illustrate its construction.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and with concrete shown in the form.

Fig. 4 is a view like that of Fig. 3 except that the base block is inverted.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the clamp and form sides without the base block in position.

Fig. 6 is a view like Figs. 3 and 4 of a modified form of our form clamp.

Fig. 7 is a view like that of Figs. 3 and 4 of a second modification of our form clamp.

Referring to the drawings we have used the numeral iii? to designate a surface on which the form is assembled. The clamp 12 is placed on the surface with the hinge 14 down. The clamp is made up of two halves that are trough like in nature and generally U-shaped in cross section. The upper edges of the troughs or the upper legs of the U-shaped halves form the pressure exerting arm elements 15. The clamp may be made in many different ways and the type we have shown is merely one practical embodiment of our invention. The major idea behind this clamp is to have a lever principal clamp for the forms that is actuated by the Weight of the forms in the first instance and of the forms and in addition the weight of the concrete mix poured into the forms forcing the forms verticals down toward the base of the forms. The forms shown in all the figures except Fig. 6 consist of a pair of opposed pressure exerting elements and a raised yielding connection portion for them that causes them to exert a clamping pressure: between them when Weight is brought to bear on the yielding connec tion portion. The form shown in Fig. 3 uses the wedge to produce the clamping action. in each case, however, the essential idea is to use a lever action clamp that will release quickly and easily when pressure is removed from the lever. There may be a great deal of variation in the length of the upper legs or pressure arms of the clamp also. We have shown them in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 as being shorter than the lower legs which causes the clamping action to occur at a lower position of the hinge than would otherwise be the case for a form of a given width. The form side vertical elements are designated 16 and lit for one portion of the form shown in Fig. l and the other portions of the form that correspond to the num bered sides are identical to them while the end vertical elements are the same except for length. Two of the end vertical elements are numbered 20 and 22 for the sake of clarity in the discussion of the operation of the device. The base blocks 24 fit in between the side pieces and the end pieces to make the bottom of the mold. These base blocks may be any shape on top that is consistent with the item being made. We have shown blocks with the male ridge 26 on top in Fig. 3 and the female groove 28 on the top in Fig. 4. This one set of base blocks may be used to produce cooperating male and female type joints. The blocks could be made flat on top if desired, of course. it is important, however, to provide the side walls of the block with the sides slightly concave as indicated by the numeral 3i). Having the sides so formed produces a very tight seal at the point indicated by the numeral 32. This tight joint is neces sary to prevent water from leaking from the form. The sides and the base blocks are provided with suitable holes designated 34; through which pin 36 may be inserted. The pin has an ordinary point 33 to make it easier to insert the pin and a ring 40 to facilitate withdrawing the pin. When an oddly shaped base block such as the one we have shown is used, it is necessary to provide bearing blocks such as the ones designated and 4 3 under the base blocks. The corners of the mold are supported by the corner angle irons 46 which are held in place by the clamps also. We have completed the description of the actual structure of the device as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and we now describe its operation and advantages.

To assemble the mold, a pair of pieces are arranged adjacent to a base block. The pins 36 are inserted through the holes 34 which holds the three elements together as to vertical movement. An appropriate bearing block is placed in the bottom of the assembled end pieces. This whole assembly is then lifted into a previously 3 placed clamp- 1-2. Before the weight of the end piece assembly bears on the clamp, the angle irons 46 areappropriately placed. As the weight of the form end pieces and base block bears on the clamp, the hinge tends to flatten out andin so doing applies a clamping pressure on the end pieces forcing, them toward the base block. The side pieces are similarly secured and the mold is ready for the concrete mixture. As the concrete designated 48 in Figs. 3 and 4 bears on the base block, the clamp'acti'on is increased until a very tight seal is formed at the point designated 32 .inthe Figs. 2 and 3. After the concrete has hardened it is a simple matter for the form to be inverted by the use of an. appropriate crane or other lifting device. Once the weight'of the form and the concrete have been removed: fromthe clamp, it will practically fall off the form. The pins are then easily removed and the form sides and ends are ready tobe used again. My form can be set up so muchfaster than any known before now and also disassembled even more rapidly, that the savings are self-evident. ot the form itselfmakcs it clear that the form can be manufactured for less than the forms previously used. Itis also obvious that there is nothing to get out of order which means low maintenance costs.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 6 we have used the numeral 50 to designate the rigid walled base memher. The side walls may be braced-in-an appropriate man ner, if necessary, as by the angular braces 52. The form verticals 54 are rigidly secured to wedge lever members 56; The wedge levers force the verticals against the base block 58. The verticals and base block are held in vertical alignment with each other by the pin 60 which is like the pin in the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The form shown in Fig. 7is essentially the same as the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 except that two hinges or yielding joints 62 connect the platform plate connector 64 to the pressure exerting arms 66. The verticals 68 and base block 70 are held in vertical alignment by a pin 72 as previously mentioned. The base blocks shown in the modified forms are not provided with concave forms, but they could be so provided easily. The base blocks of the modified forms are also shown with flat bottoms as distinguished from the multiple joint forming base blocks shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The basic principle remains the same, however, for the lever clamp action actuated by the weight of the forms is identical in theory of operation in all the various forms. These modified forms operate and are used in the same way as described for the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. No special description of the operation of the modified forms is deemed necessary.

I have shown a particular form of base block which makes a male or female joint that is easily packed with tar or the like to form a water tight seal that will preserve a casket in a burial vault using this joint in a dry condition. The basic ideas in my invention are the clamp and the base blocs pressure joint seal, however.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my concrete form without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

We claim:

1. In a concrete form, vertical elements in laterally spaced relation to each other, a base block between said vertical elements and engaging them; said base block having concave sides; said vertical elements and said base block having holes therein, pins extending through the holes in said vertical elements and said base block, and a The simplicity ing concave sides; means for limitingonly the vertical movement of said vertical elements in relation to said base block, and a clamp means that has halves that are generally U-shaped in, cross section and which. are secured together yieldingly by a leg ofeach U-shaped half,

said vertical elements and said baseblock fitting between the free ends of said U-shaped halves and said base block resting on said yielding joint; whereby the free ends of said U-shaped halves apply a compression force on said vertical element-s forcing them toward said base block as a result of the weight of said vertical elements and said base blocks bearing on the yielding joint of said clamp.

3. In a concrete form, vertical elements in laterally spaced relation to eachother, a base bloekbetweensaid vertical elements and engaging them, said base block having concave sides, said block having a ridge onone face and a complementary groove onthe face opposite to the one carrying the ridge, said vertical elements and said base block having holes therein, pins extending through theholes in said vertical elements and said base block, a clamp means that has halves that are generally U-shaped in cross section and: which are secured together yieldingly by a legof each U-shaped half; said vertical elements andsaid base block fitting between the free ends of said- U-shapedhalves, and abearing block dis posed between said base block and said yielding joint; said bearing block engaging saidyielding joint and said base block; whereby the weight of said base block and said vertical member bears onsaid-yieldingjoint; said bearing block being flat on its bottom center; each of said pins being independent of every other pin.

4. In a concrete form, vertical elements in laterally spaced relation to each other, a base block between said vertical elements and engaging them, said base block having concave sides, means for limiting only the verticalmovement of said vertical elements. in relationto said base block, said base block having a ridge on one face and a complementary groove on'the face'opposite to that having the ridge, a clamp means that hashalves that are generally U-shaped in cross. section and which are secured together yieldingly by a leg of each U-shaped half; said base block and said vertical elements fitting between the free ends of said U-shapedhalves, and a hearing block disposed between said base block and said yielding joint; said bearing block engaging said' yielding joint and said base block; whereby the weightof said base block and said vertical member bears on said yielding joint; said bearing block being flat on its bottom center.

5. In a concrete form, a pair of vertical elements, a base block disposed between said vertical elements and engaging them, said base block having concave sides, a means for limiting only the vertical movement of; said vertical elements and said base block relative to each other, and a clamp having two opposed force exerting elements and a raised connecting portion; said'force exerting elements exerting an opposed force when weight bears on said raised connecting portion; said vertical elements and said base block disposed between said force exerting elements and having their weight. bearingon said raised connecting portion. h

6. In a concrete form, a pair of vertical elements, a base block interposed betweensaid, vertical elements; said base blocks having, concave sides, a means for securing said vertical elements and said base block against 5 vertical movement only relative to each other, and a lever principal clamp means actuated by the weight of said vertical elements and base block for urging said vertical elements toward each other and into sealing contact with said base block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 60,310 Wiggin Dec. 4, 1866 6 Young Dec. 17, 1901 Van Hullen June 16, 1925 Smith et a1. June 4, 1929 Haase Dec. 29, 1931 Hopkins Feb. 24, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Feb. 12, 1909 

1. IN A CONCRETE FROM, VERTICAL ELEMENTS IN LATERALLY SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER, A BASE BLOCK BETWEEN SAID VERTICAL ELEMENTS AND ENGAGING THEM; SAID BASE BLOCK HAVING CONCAVE SIDES; SAID VERTICAL ELEMENTS AND SAID BASE BLOCK HAVING HOLES THEREIN, PINS EXTENDING THROUGH THE HOLES IN SAID VERTICAL ELEMENTS AND SAID BASE BLOCK, AND A CLAMP MEANS THAT HAS HALVES THAT ARE GENERALLY U-SHAPED IN CROSS SECTION AND WHICH ARE SECURED TOGETHER YIELDINGLY BY A LEG OF EACH U-SHAPED HALF; SAID VERTICAL ELEMENTS AND SAID BASE BLOCK FITTING BETWEEN THE FREE ENDS OF SAID U-SHAPED HALVES AND SAID BASE BLOCK RESTING ON SAID YIELDING JOINT; WHEREBY THE FREE ENDS OF SAID U-SHAPED HALVES APPLY A COMPRESSION FORCE ON SAID VERTICAL ELEMENTS FORCING THEM TOWARD SAID BASE BLOCK AS A RESULT OF THE WEIGHT OF SAID VERTICAL ELEMENTS AND SAID BASE BLOCKS BEARING ON THE YIELDING JOINT OF SAID CLAMP; EACH OF SAID PINS BEING INDEPENDENT OF EVERY OTHER PIN. 